How to Live Your Best Virtual Conference Life

I flopped onto the porch swing.

“Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference is moving ahead at half capacity and will also offer a virtual conference option.”

Toddler angst and teen ennui grappled for control of my tear ducts. Adult rationale cowered somewhere in the background.

Hubby side-eyed me.

“Shouldn’t you be smiling? A virtual option is good news, right?”

“Yes, but—”

I tried to hold back the building pressure of a wail. “That means three hundred of my very-best-most-favorite-friends will be having fun at the conference withouuuuut meeeeeeeeeeeee!”

via GIPHY

Being a serial extrovert with Lupus in the time of Covid is a bit tricky.

Most of my introvert friends are totally okay with the current situation, but I’m feeling a little un-hugged.

I’ve tried to rationalize attending. I like pro/con lists.

Reasons It Would Be Okay To Attend My Absolute Favorite Writing Conference In Person

1. I want to go.
2. I want to go.
3. I want to go.

Reasons Virtual Conference Attendance Is My Best Option

1. What could be worse than missing BRMCWC? Staying for fifteen minutes.
   • Current state regulations require random temperature checks (this is smart).
   • Lupus causes random temperature spikes high enough to send me home before I have any fun (Lupus is stupid).
2. State regulations may change. Although this could remove temperature checks, it could also eliminate masks and 6-foot personal bubble space, which means:
   • People will start hugging.
   • I’ll attempt to resist, and then will either:
     • embrace the hugging (risking immune-deficient virus exposure). 
     • avoid hugging (risking hug-deficient spontaneous implosion).
3. Lupus puts me at higher virus risk—both for catching and for complications. I prefer to avoid either, because:
   • Friends who experienced Covid have assured me I should skip the experience.
   • Since Lupus already targets organs, MyCovidAdventure is likely to include headache, dry mouth, fever, kidney issues and mild-to-moderate death.

Now what?

The heart wants what it wants, but my brain can’t argue with the pro/con list. Neither can my kidneys.

I cancelled my in-person ticket. (Yes, kicking and screaming. But I’ve finished the tantrum, calmed the toddler angst and slithered through the teen ennui. Adult rationale is back in the driver’s seat. Mostly.)

Then, I signed up for the virtual option.

Here’s the good news if you also need to attend virtually:

I’ve created

Becky’s Super-Fabulous Virtual Conference Success Plan.

Okay, you got me. I needed the last two words to alliterate. But I promise, it’s actually going somewhere. (Also, if someone sees my post and tries to riff, they can only steal my first two points).

Click here for Part 1.

Then, click here to register for Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.

P.S. Even some of my most introvert-y introvert buddies are feeling the absence of personal connection. If you’re missing hugs, please know–you’re definitely not alone. Not ever.